The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and FOX Sports have announced the return of Saratoga Live, the critically-acclaimed and award-winning television show providing in-depth coverage and analysis of the 40-day summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course.
Presented by America’s Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, Saratoga Live will provide full card coverage of nearly every race day to a national audience on the FOX Sports family of networks.
The 2021 summer meet, which will mark the return of fans to Saratoga following the lifting of COVID-19 protocols in New York state, will feature 76 stakes worth $21.5 million in total purses highlighted by the 152nd renewal of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on Saturday, Aug. 28, NYRA said.
Season six of Saratoga Live will offer fans the most extensive and comprehensive coverage yet with more than 220 hours of live programming during the 2021 summer meet, which runs from Thursday, July 15 through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 6. With the exception of Whitney Day, Travers Day and Labor Day weekend, which feature a first post time of 12:30 p.m., Saratoga Live will begin at 1 p.m.
FOX broadcast network (FOX) will present a special opening weekend show on July 17 highlighted by the 83rd running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Diana. For the third consecutive year, FOX will air the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on Saturday, Aug. 28 as part of 6.5 hours of Travers Day coverage on FOX and FOX Sports.
“Nothing tops a summer day at Saratoga,” said Michael Mulvihill, FOX Sports executive vice president, head of strategy and analytics. “With the world’s greatest racing meet back in front of full crowds, we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate with an opening weekend special on FOX featuring the Diana Stakes. Our expanded coverage across FS1 and FS2, bookended with the Runhappy Travers in August, gives horseplayers a full summer of action and highlights our unique partnership with NYRA.”
NYRA and FOX Sports began their collaboration in 2016 during the first season of Saratoga Live, when FS2 aired 80 hours of live coverage of the summer meet. Since then, coverage of horse racing on FOX Sports has grown considerably each year. In 2020, FOX Sports aired more than 700 hours of horse racing coverage and analysis on its family of networks.
In addition to daily national coverage on FOX Sports, 2021 will see the addition of SNY as a regional NYRA broadcast partner. SNY viewers can look forward to eight consecutive weekends of racing from Saratoga, with coverage of Saratoga Live to kick off on Saturday, July 17, and continuing Saturdays and Sundays through Aug. 29.
“The continued growth and expanded reach of Saratoga Live reflects the sustained excellence of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course,” said Tony Allevato, NYRA chief revenue officer. “It’s our privilege to present the most extensive and comprehensive racing coverage in the country on FOX Sports and SNY, and we are looking forward to a spectacular summer at the Spa.”
The 2021 Saratoga Live broadcast schedule can be found at www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.
For more information about the 2021 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, visit NYRA.com.